Won't Stay On!

For the last two days, the longest I've been able to get my laptop to stay turned on is 15 minutes, but ususally not longer than about 2 minutes.

My laptop used to turn itself off because of overheating, but lately its been doing so before the Windows XP has fully loaded (and thus isn't even remotely hot).

I'm thinking the issue may be that the temperature sensor has burned out


So far ive tried:
-alternating RAM amoung the two bays and with both cards (one factory installed the other I installed) with no noticeable difference in longevity.
-uninstalling Video Card (it gets really hot while the computer is running), still turns off when video card isn't hot (even turned off right after uninstalling video card and then again while restarting after video card was uninstalled causing the laptop to now have the VC partially installed, unable to uninstall and unable to reinstall ><)

If given time to turn on (without shutting down during loading) Windows Xp can open and run, I can log into my profile, i can get pop ups saying that the video card isnt installed right, I can get online, I can hear sounds, I can access saved data on both drives, I can even open up and run WoW. But as of late it has turned itself off at any point during these activities, while Window's loads (leading to future pop ups saying windows failed to load on next start-up), while WoW/other programs load or while it is idling (leaving Windows to give a start-up pop up about needing to check drives for consistency (which never turns up any issues if completely run)), heck I've even had it turn off in the middle of trying to tweak BIOS settings (tried changing memory dedicated to Video Card while playing musical chairs with my RAM).

My computer seems to be poorly designed for heat issues (AMD processor designed to run at mid 90*F, Video Card attached to Heat Sink metal but no connection to vent by fan, VC and Processor located right next to each other on MoBo... laptop gets hot enough to have given me 1st degree burns on my leg (DX) from the plasic).


Its an Acer Aspire Series with all the manufacturer's settings except an additional 512mb memory card added.

Any1 know how to disable the heat sensor? Or think there is another solution that is doable? I know disabling heat sensor is opening the computer up to complete destruction, but at this point its pretty much in the trashcan already :/

 

Is this laptop under guarantee?

YES
Then take it back its faulty if it keeps overheating.

NO
I agree thermal design is not Acer's strong point. Many have reported temperature lowering of 5 to 10 deg C if the low grade thermal compound Acer use is replaced with good quality e.g. Arctic Silver.


Studio T

 

ok, so its definitely the heat sensor attached to my processor!

after installing and opening the program (ty for that btw) i selected Computer>Sensors and it informed me that my hard drive was operating at a normal 73* (expected since i haven't used my computer in 24 hrs (posting on a school computer)), and that my processor (after the computer was on for 5 mins to go to the site and download/install) was at a nice temp of 163*F. which is amazing as the entire laptop was cool to the touch. About 2 mins after seeing this (and attempting to log in to post) my computer turned itself off again.

Is there anyway to override the temp given by the sensor? or just somehow remove the sensor totally?

TY SOO much for the fast reply

 

oh, and for the previous poster, the laptop is NOT under warrantee and the fan sounds like someone put a pencil in it :/ Ive already opened and cleaned out dust form it in case that was an issue. (also noticed that it was imbalanced and the sound was actually teh blades constantly hitting the housing leaving gashes in the metal).

The fan constantly runs and varies in sound and volume... thank god for head phones

 

but would that make the sensor record the right temp? the processor is not over clocked...is it natural for a processor to reach temperatures of 163*F after being used for 5 minutes (basically just starting windows) its an AMD Semperon 2800+? That didn't seem normal to me...and the laptop does get hot, but that is after running for like 11 hrs straight, at this point it is turning off after running for 5 minutes straight. The fan is loud, and probably not as efficient as it should be, but regardless the comptuer has it start blowing on start-up and never turns it off. The moment BIOS starts I can't understand what BIOS can be doing that is generating either 163*F of heat (that doesn't in any way dissipate throught the processor's heat sink/the rest of the computer) but requires the fan to be on/replaced. Plus this is a laptop, and the fan seems fairly unremovable (ive tried to take it out after removing all of its screws when cleaning it).

 

the computer has 2 sensors according to everest, 1 on the hard drive and 1 on the CPU, the CPU says it has a temperature of 163*F the hard disk says it has a temp of 73*F. While the HD temp wouldn't shut it down (id assume as you did ) the CPU temp of a steady 163*F probably would i'd think, i mean the normal run temp for that processor is 95ish*F according to AMD i believe...so that would mean the computer beleives it is at about 60* more that it should be. Sorry if I was vague before. While Everest said teh Processor was at 163*F its heat sink was cool to the touch.

 

The processor has an internal thermal sensor which shuts it down if it overheats. From what you say it may have been damaged by overheating in the past.
The motherboard bios reads this and may also monitor a heatsink sensor. This also has the power to halt the system.

Both of these issues can normally only be fully resolved by replacement of processor or motherboard.

Some bios have various control options including switching off monitoring. Have you looked to see what is available in yours? You may remove the trouble if you can set the 'warning limits' high enough, for instance.

There is also a sensor readout available via the hard drive SMART technology.
This is usually only a warning though.

Studio T

 

ty guys

While examining my processor to look for any abnormalities, I removed it from the computer...and then upon restart the temp control showed that it was about 130* instead of 160*... every restart since then the temp reading has dropped about 10* making it hover at around 90*F according to the sensor (i have a feeling its actually hotter atm ). Regardless i am taking ur advice and have actually ordered a new processor (yay for having outdated processor 754 socket ) and since I was unable to find a fan that would fit my computer right I just got a cooling mat that should force air into the computer (and thus out the side where the fan is supposed to be pushing air).


ty again!

 

Good to see some lateral thinking.

let us know how you get on.

Studio T